01/16/2023
At Lotus Leaf, we started the year talking about Pantajali's Eight Limbs of Yoga, starting with the Yamas. Specifically, we have been talking Ahimsa. This first Yama speaks to non-violence and non-harming. A lot of people think Ahimsa means you have to be a vegetarian or vegan. No. It is so much more than that.
Practicing Ahimsa gives us the opportunity to rid ourselves of hostility, hatred, negative thoughts, anger, etc. Essentially anything that is not nice and/or unkind. Toward others but also toward ourselves.
In my family, we practiced ahimsa but didn't know it was called that. If anyone said anything negative about themselves ("I am so stupid.") we called them out on it and then they had to say at least two positive things about themselves. I remember my mom's number one positive thought was "Well, I have pretty blue eyes." She really did.
My friends have heard me ask them to say two positive things about themselves if I hear them say unkind, negative words against themselves. In these moments, I am trying to practice Ahimsa while helping my friends see what I see - how utterly extraordinary they are.
So as we travel through this week, let's give ourselves a break from the anger and hostility and negative thoughts. Toward others AND toward ourselves. Let's be kind. And allow ourselves to find a state of peacefulness. If only for a moment.
Let's practice Ahimsa and see where that leads us.
Namaste, my friends.
